12. C Jeff Faine, 2003 – 21st
This is one of those moves that boggle the mind. Jeff Faine played 10 years in the NFL as a starter. Rarely getting hurt until his later years. Yet, the Browns traded him after just three seasons so they could move up nine spots?
Sure, it was for D’Qwell Jackson, and that is one of my all-time favorite players. Yet, still, you couldn’t have used anything else to move up? The Saints knew that Faine was the missing piece to their puzzle?
It’s a bit perplexing why they moved him, he was a good center. Good enough to start for four teams. He didn’t seem to be a problem causer and was even a captain for the Saints and Buccaneers.
Sure, he never was a Pro Bowler, but he was an alternate in 2007, and had been with the Browns in 2007 and not the Saints, likely would’ve gone simply because the NFC had a far deeper pool of deserving centers to sort through.
Faine is like Kamerion Wimbley and Gerard Warren, a victim of turnover and circumstance. The Browns never should’ve traded him.